as in brightens
to become glad or hopeful
the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment
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as in illumines
to supply with light
the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun
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Recent Examples of lightens
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Our version lightens things up with a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth cookie.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Dec. 2025
Using an immersion blender or mixer, beat the yolks with the sugar in a large mixing bowl until the mixture lightens in color.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2025
As the boots bend and flex with regular wear, the leather lightens at the crease points, resulting in a one-of-a-kind look that is unique to each wearer.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 12 Nov. 2025
After addressing the anxious crowd, the pilot lightens the mood once more.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
That’s why engineers at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) have developed a soft robotic exoskeleton that doesn’t just assist motion, but lightens the load, literally.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Gently rub until the spot lightens.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
The propeller steering mechanism also simplifies and lightens the mounting hardware, adding to total weight savings, and allows multiple outboards to be mounted closer together.
—New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
The energy lightens and expands in the final third of the month.
—Cite this Entry
“Lightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightens. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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